Page 28 - RotalTutor

annoyed her greatly, for nothing makes someone angrier than to see others happy when they, themselves, are not. Alexander, their son, stood beside them. She hated him most of all. He was always gracious and calm, the very juxtaposition of herself. She remembered him only as a small boy, and was not inclined to think of him in any other way, even though he had grown tall. He stood there looking at her - dusty, tired, and homesick - and, as he kindly put his hand out to help her from the carriage, she caustically slapped it away, saying that she could take care of herself. It didn’t dim his smile at all as he, a young lord, kindly helped each one of her young ladies-in-waiting down from the carriage. As he smiled at each of them, Louise was quick to note their eager smile in return, and knew each was taken in by his charm. But not her, no sir. She wasn’t about to fall for a pompous stiff like Alexander, especially when she knew how much her own mother liked him. She saw Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret glance at each other as she had brushed Alexander off, but they continued their stiff, fake smiles. She knew what they must truly be thinking. She knew her parents must have told them all about her. If they thought they could change her, they had another thing coming. Duke Reginald and Lady Margaret excused themselves and left Alexander in charge of arranging to get everyone settled. That really angered Louise. He was only 26